A president’s true effect on his country can’t be fully and accurately
assessed until some time after his or her term ends. But looking at Donald
Trump’s record so far indicates his effect will be almost 100 percent negative,
as is plainly demonstrated by media coverage and the estimates of his Democrat
and liberal enemies.
Sure, he’s been in office only seven months, but all that
really means is that his negative record is ultimately going to be absolutely
YUGE and unparalleled!
How could so many American voters have been so wrong last
November?
Trump is a man who has become famous only because his father
gave him money, right? Daddy, we are told, provided gifts of $1 million or
maybe $100 million. Detractors say that is why he is now worth $3.5 billion,
according to Forbes, only 35 times the highest reported level of help of $100
million. What’s special about that? Surely any or all of the rest of us could
have done that well?
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., saw this coming and wisely
wanted to save the country all this pain by impeaching him before he ever got sworn
in as president. Perhaps she was in such a hurry because she wanted get it done
before her trial for ethics violations begins. And some of her patriotic
Democrat comrades are still working toward that end. Bless their hearts!
And CNN’s “reporter,” Jim Acosta – who has benefitted from
his own journalistic failures since Trump made him famous by noticing and
publicizing them – acted on an assumption. Immediately upon hearing the dire
predictions of catastrophe of Hurricane Harvey advancing on the Texas coast,
Acosta apparently assumed Trump was watching baseball rather than acting in
advance of the storm to deal with the developing crisis. He texted Trump with
the question “what is your administration doing about the hurricane to keep
Texans safe?” By then, Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had already talked by
phone and the federal government was already acting, and Abbott has praised the
federal response. Oops!
No doubt Al Gore will soon publish another book or make
another movie with withering criticism of Donald’s failure to remain in the
Paris Climate Accord, that “doctrine with no teeth,” which he’ll swear could
have turned the storm to the south, sparing America altogether.
Sure, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a hero to
many Arizonans for his unwavering enforcement of federal immigration laws the
federal government refused to enforce. The feds’ abdication meant great harm
and discomfort to the people of Sen. John McCain’s home state.
But how could Donald dare to pardon the man before he was
even sentenced for the misdemeanor charges he was found guilty of – by a judge,
not a jury – and robbing that judge of the pleasure of punishing a man she convicted
of upholding federal law?
Shouldn’t a president’s powers of pardon and commutation be
reserved for people convicted of serious federal crimes, as Bill Clinton did on
his last day in office for 140 such criminals, some of whom were his relatives
and friends? Or, for releasing 1,500 federal prisoners and Gitmo detainees, as
Barack Obama did over eight years?
Even some so-called Republicans, like the aforementioned
John McCain, are critical of Trump. McCain said the timing was bad and
especially so because “Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for”
doing the job the federal government refused to do to protect Sen. McCain’s
Arizona constituents.
With these acts Trump has joined the ranks of previous
presidents, doing things their enemies dislike. Remember Barack Obama’s “If you
like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,” bragging on the Affordable Care
Act, or “The police acted stupidly” trying to protect personal property, or
when he curtsied to Muslim leaders upon meeting them?
Many people do not like Donald Trump, a condition he readily
contributes to by some actions, but also because he doesn’t do things the way
they expect a president to do them. However, being different isn’t necessarily
being wrong. Remember, in 1532 it was a certainty that the Earth was the center
of all things. But Nicholaus Copernicus revived an ancient theory saying the
Sun was actually the center and Earth revolved around it. According to the
existing beliefs, he was wrong. But he wasn’t.
Many in the media and the public take Trump’s words literally
without thinking about what he was trying to communicate. Yes, that may be hard
work, but reporting accurately is also hard work, and the media needs to step
up its game.
Of course, Trump should do a better job of making sure his
words convey their intended meaning; but the media must remember that their job
is to convey the true message, the intended message, and leave their petty,
adolescent feelings aside.
Reporters and media outlets are charged with accurately,
objectively and fairly informing the public. Report what happens, good, bad and
ugly, and let the people decide how to respond. Americans don’t need you to
tell them what to think.
America’s future is far more important than the hurt feelings
and emotional upheavals of Trump’s enemies.
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